Kneeling pad



Dec. 18 1923. 7

J. OCONNELL KNEELING PAD Filed April 13. 1922 fiberzib'r; I, (Z272 0%072 a?! m Ki W Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

JOHN OCONNELL, 0F AL'LS'ION, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNEELING ran.

Application filed. April 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN OCoNNnLL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Allston, county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Kneeling Pads, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying-drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relates to pads adapted to be used upon kneeling benches in churches and places of devotion, so that persons using these facilities may do so with more comfort. A principal object of the invention is to provide an equipment of individual pads for persons attending services of which each person may conveniently avail himself Without reference to the practice of others. In accordance with my invention each pad is securely connected with the pew or other -fixed support in a manner so that it may be conveniently adjusted to the requirement of the user, and when not in use may be hung up without detachment from its holding means, in a manner so that it is not liable to accumulate dust and dirt. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the distinctive features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing one end of a pew and kneeling bench equipped with the device of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation of a kneeling bench and pew equipped with my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the manner of suspending the pad when not in use.

10 indicates a pew with a usual upright back 10 11 indicates a kneeling bench extending as usual along the back of one pew and directly in front of the next rear pew (not shown). 12 indicates my improved kneeling pad which may be in the form of a stuffed cushion produced in accordance with the usual requirements and upholstering. A series of these pads are provided at intervals Serial No. 552,064.

along the bench, each pad being of a dimension suitable for an individual user, i. e. preferably about twelve inches long. Each of these pads is engaged with one end of a iiexible connection, shown as a chain 13, the other end of which is secured by a screw eye 1 1 or the like to the back of the pew directly over the bench. The location of the screw eye let is a substantial distance above the bench, and the chain 13 is of a length somewhat greater than required to extend directly down to the pad, as indicated at 13. The purpose of this is to permit the pad to be moved along the bench to some extent to locate the same properly for the convenience of the person using the same. The chain 18 is provided near the lower end thereof with a hook 15 which may be engaged in or over the eye 14 to serve as a means for holding the pad suspended when not in use as indicated in Figure 3. When so suspended it will be noted that the pad is held a substantial distance above the bench and lying against the back of the pew in a manner so as to be protected from the accumulation of dust or d rt and permitting the bench to be swept or cleaned as may be required without the pad beingin the way. If desired the screw eye 14: may be suitably fast ened to the pew in a manner so that it cannot be removed by mischievous persons, and the engagement of the chain with the pad is also preferably by means of an interior button 13 so that the pad cannot be detached from the chain and surreptitiously removed. By reason of the relatively small dimension of these individual pads, each individual may without trouble or effort hook the pad in front of him up out of the way when not required for use, thus protecting the same from the feet which are often rested upon the kneeling bench when the person is sitting in the pew. I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I cured to the back of the peWat a substantial claim as new and desire to secure by Letters elevation, and a hook borne by a lower por- 10 Patent is: tion of the chain adapted to engage a sup- The combination with a pew and kneeling port at the back of the pew for holding the bench associated therewith, of a series of inpad suspended at will. div dual pads for application to said bench, In testimony whereof, I have signed my each having one end of a chain engaged therename to this specification.

with, the other end of such chain being se- 7 JOHN OCONNELL. 

